[Albion](https://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/albion/?ref=au)’s Dutch stars are on the brink of securing their World Cup finals place.
But Jan Paul van Hecke will miss what looks like being their crowning moment.
A 1-1 draw away to second-placed Poland kept Holland three points clear at the top of their group with now just one game to play.
They also have a big advantage in terms of goal difference ahead of their game with Lithuania at the Johann Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam.
That means they have probably done enough already but a win or draw would make absolutely sure.
Van Hecke went on as substitute for the closing stages as an unimpressive Dutch side held on for the precious point.
But he was booked in the last minute of the game and will be suspended for the Lithuania clash.
That is disappointing for the Seagulls defender but perhaps not his club as they await their players’ return before hosting Brentford next Saturday.
Bart Verbruggen was left exposed for the opening Poland goal but Dutch newspaper and website Algemeen Dagblad made him his team’s man of the match.
The Albion keeper continued the good form he has shown for his club and remains the Oranje’s No.1, despite the impressive recent work of Robin Roefs for Sunderland.
Albion had eight representatives at the 2022 World Cup, of whom only Kaoru Mitoma and Jeremy Sarmiento (currently on loan at Cremonese) remain with the club.
Fans will be intrigued to see whether they can beat that next summer.
Mitoma, Diego Gomez and Tom McGill currently look likely to be there while Yankuba Minteh, Carlos Baleba and Charalampos Kostoulas know they will not make it, despite being current members of international squads.
Max De Cuyper’s Belgium will be heading to the finals if they win in Kazakhstan today.